Forest rangers and volunteers have continued to battle flames and strong winds to stop a fierce fire raging across the Aberdare national park for nearly 72 hours now.
The huge fire which started on Saturday night according to an official working for Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), is yet to be contained.
Kenya Forest Service head of Conservancy, Central Highlands Samuel Ihure said that the wildfire is mostly affecting the Northern part of the Aberdares in Eburru area.
“This could be arson given that five fires broke out last night. We have teams on the ground working to put it out,” he said.
The extent of damage is still unknown but teams from KFS, the local community, and conservation groups are currently battling the wildfires.
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“At the moment it is hard to estimate the extent of the damage as aerial surveillance was hindered by extreme winds. The teams on site haven’t also managed to give feedback due to network issues,” the KFS boss said.
Mount Kenya Trust, one of the organizations involved in putting out the fire, said the fire was still spreading as of Sunday evening.
The same phenomenon also occurred in 2019 when the fire destroyed more than 70 hectares (approximately 173 acres) of bamboo in the Aberdare Forest even as Kenya Wildlife Service battled to put it out.
The flames were suspected to have been started by illegal honey harvesters or poachers.
Located in the Aberdare Mountain range, the park is home to spectacular waterfalls and lush bamboo jungles as well as a variety of wildlife including leopards, elephants, and critically endangered black rhinos.
The Aberdares are the third highest mountain range in Kenya, reaching a summit of just over 4.000 meters.